February 24th, 2008
Doha, Qatar & Bogota, Columbia
The WTA Tour made stops this week in both Columbia and half way around the world in Qatar. The women on hand for the Qatar event made it look promising at the beginning of the week, but sadly it turned out to be quite the dud. Bogota was the lesser known event of the week, but still garnered up some fantastic action on the red clay in South America.
Bogota began with the usual lower ranked players making their games known, but only one would come out on top at the end of the week and that was Nuria Llagostera Vives. The promising player had a great 2005, which even brought her to a second week showing at Roland Garros, a horrible 2006 and a bumpy 2007. This week however, with a few three set victories along the way, Vives was once again showing how well she could play the game of tennis on the red clay courts. Her toughest match came during the Semi-Finals with a 36 76(3) 63 win over teen-aged qualifier Carla Suárez Navarro. Vives won the event with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Ma. Emilia Salerni.
In Doha, many well known names were on hand at the beginning of the week including, Ana Ivanvic, Jelena Jankovic, Venus Williams, Anna Chakvetadze, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Maria Sharapova. Having 6 out of the Top 7 players in the world would make anyone believe the tournament would be interesting. That is until they either get injured or are upset.
Ana Ivanovic sprained her ankle and had to withdraw, Venus, Svetlana, Anna and Jelena all lost early. Sharapova was the only Top 4 seed to make it to the Semi-Finals. With her lack of tough opponents, it seemed destined for Sharapova to win her 2nd title of the year and extend her match winning streak to 14-0. That is exactly what she did with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-0 victory over Vera Zvonereva in the Finals. For Zvonereva it was a return to playing well and having good results, defeating Na Li in the Semi-Finals and trying to return towards the top, where she once was back in 2004. For Sharapova, it only adds to her stunning play this year and brings another title to her home. She now moves on to Dubai trying to take yet another title. Doha was Sharapova's 6th Tier I victory and 18th overall.
Next week the WTA Tour stops in 3 places, in Dubai, in Memphis and in Acapulco. It should be a busy week for the Tour, and an exciting one.
Doha, Qatar & Bogota, Columbia
The WTA Tour made stops this week in both Columbia and half way around the world in Qatar. The women on hand for the Qatar event made it look promising at the beginning of the week, but sadly it turned out to be quite the dud. Bogota was the lesser known event of the week, but still garnered up some fantastic action on the red clay in South America.
Bogota began with the usual lower ranked players making their games known, but only one would come out on top at the end of the week and that was Nuria Llagostera Vives. The promising player had a great 2005, which even brought her to a second week showing at Roland Garros, a horrible 2006 and a bumpy 2007. This week however, with a few three set victories along the way, Vives was once again showing how well she could play the game of tennis on the red clay courts. Her toughest match came during the Semi-Finals with a 36 76(3) 63 win over teen-aged qualifier Carla Suárez Navarro. Vives won the event with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Ma. Emilia Salerni.
In Doha, many well known names were on hand at the beginning of the week including, Ana Ivanvic, Jelena Jankovic, Venus Williams, Anna Chakvetadze, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Maria Sharapova. Having 6 out of the Top 7 players in the world would make anyone believe the tournament would be interesting. That is until they either get injured or are upset.
Ana Ivanovic sprained her ankle and had to withdraw, Venus, Svetlana, Anna and Jelena all lost early. Sharapova was the only Top 4 seed to make it to the Semi-Finals. With her lack of tough opponents, it seemed destined for Sharapova to win her 2nd title of the year and extend her match winning streak to 14-0. That is exactly what she did with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-0 victory over Vera Zvonereva in the Finals. For Zvonereva it was a return to playing well and having good results, defeating Na Li in the Semi-Finals and trying to return towards the top, where she once was back in 2004. For Sharapova, it only adds to her stunning play this year and brings another title to her home. She now moves on to Dubai trying to take yet another title. Doha was Sharapova's 6th Tier I victory and 18th overall.
Next week the WTA Tour stops in 3 places, in Dubai, in Memphis and in Acapulco. It should be a busy week for the Tour, and an exciting one.
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